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The Journal
When Mary gave a journal to her fiancé in 1861 before he left for war, neither of them had any idea how many hands would write in it over the next four years. The little book travels back and forth across enemy lines and almost takes on a personality of its own as the new owners read what others have written and add their own reflections. The Journal covers some of the major battles of the Civil War from a personal point of view. Each soldier who writes in the journal is in a different place in his relationship with God, and each draws strength and help from what others have written.
72 pages, Paperback
First published March 22, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 24, 2013
About the Book:
A young Confederate soldier is given a journal as he departs for war in 1861. The little book soon falls into the hands of another and another and another. The journal travels all through the war, crossing battle lines several times and presenting thoughts from both sides of the war.
Each soldier who writes in the journal is in a different situation and each is in a different place in his relationship with God. The words that others have written in the journal have an effect on those who acquire possession of the book later, and the journal becomes quite important to each soldier.
My Review:
This book was a very short read but very touching. I really enjoyed reading it. I am a homeschool mom so I decided to read it to my children and they enjoyed it as well. They are very fascinated with the Civil War right now so the book was a perfect addition to their school work.
The book begins with Mary giving her fiance a blank journal as he is going off to war. Something where he can record memories that they can share when he comes home. But not soon after her fiance begins to write and record the happenings of war life the journal is found by another soldier that starts to write in it also. This little book changes hands many times and travels across enemy lines as well.
Each person that receives the journal is helped in some way by the words of the previous writer. By the end of the book I was thinking how wonderful it would of been if this book were true and there really had been a war journal floating around like that between soldiers. Something that would of comforted them, I'm sure would of been a Godsend in a situation like that.
This book The Journal, is Beth Harlow's first book and I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of it. I think the characters seemed very real and full of raw emotion. The connection between them and the Civil War is a brilliant concept. I look forward reading more from this author.
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
A young Confederate soldier is given a journal as he departs for war in 1861. The little book soon falls into the hands of another and another and another. The journal travels all through the war, crossing battle lines several times and presenting thoughts from both sides of the war.
Each soldier who writes in the journal is in a different situation and each is in a different place in his relationship with God. The words that others have written in the journal have an effect on those who acquire possession of the book later, and the journal becomes quite important to each soldier.
My Review:
This book was a very short read but very touching. I really enjoyed reading it. I am a homeschool mom so I decided to read it to my children and they enjoyed it as well. They are very fascinated with the Civil War right now so the book was a perfect addition to their school work.
The book begins with Mary giving her fiance a blank journal as he is going off to war. Something where he can record memories that they can share when he comes home. But not soon after her fiance begins to write and record the happenings of war life the journal is found by another soldier that starts to write in it also. This little book changes hands many times and travels across enemy lines as well.
Each person that receives the journal is helped in some way by the words of the previous writer. By the end of the book I was thinking how wonderful it would of been if this book were true and there really had been a war journal floating around like that between soldiers. Something that would of comforted them, I'm sure would of been a Godsend in a situation like that.
This book The Journal, is Beth Harlow's first book and I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of it. I think the characters seemed very real and full of raw emotion. The connection between them and the Civil War is a brilliant concept. I look forward reading more from this author.
Disclosure of Material: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
October 2, 2013
'The Journal' by Beth Harlow is a little book that packs a big punch. In the form of a diary taken into the American Civil War by a Confederate soldier, this novel gives the reader glimpses of the lives of the men whose hands it goes through. This is a poignant format that leaves some mystery regarding what happened to each of the writers after the journal leaves their possession. This can be frustrating to a reader who has begun to sympathize with and care about the character in the brief time they are featured, but it adds to the authenticity of this journal format.
As the journal is passed from soldier to soldier through death, loss, capture, or theft, the reader enters the world of both Confederate and Northern soldiers. The reader and each man who becomes an owner of the journal realize that men on both sides of this bloody conflict have much in common. They have families they wish to get home to, sweethearts waiting for them, and thoughts about what will happen if they die. Each man who writes in the journal shares his thoughts on faith with the knowledge that they could meet their death at any moment. Though the book covers the entire time period of the war, it is by no means a thorough history since each man tells his story as he experiences it. Some battles are up close and personal, others just something he heard about after the fact.
This was a very touching book, and my biggest complaint was that it was not fleshed out a little more. It is only 62 pages long and I felt like it could have been made into something even better. The only other negative that I noted was that the writing voice did not change much with each new character. We had to be told that the diary had changed hands, but I felt like it should have been more obvious by the change in the writers' styles and personalities. Breaking this up into chapters would have made it easier to flip back and remember who was who.
Overall, this was a very worthwhile, quick read and is appropriate for readers of any age.
I received this book from Crosslink Publishing through BookCrash for review purposes. Opinions expressed are my own.
As the journal is passed from soldier to soldier through death, loss, capture, or theft, the reader enters the world of both Confederate and Northern soldiers. The reader and each man who becomes an owner of the journal realize that men on both sides of this bloody conflict have much in common. They have families they wish to get home to, sweethearts waiting for them, and thoughts about what will happen if they die. Each man who writes in the journal shares his thoughts on faith with the knowledge that they could meet their death at any moment. Though the book covers the entire time period of the war, it is by no means a thorough history since each man tells his story as he experiences it. Some battles are up close and personal, others just something he heard about after the fact.
This was a very touching book, and my biggest complaint was that it was not fleshed out a little more. It is only 62 pages long and I felt like it could have been made into something even better. The only other negative that I noted was that the writing voice did not change much with each new character. We had to be told that the diary had changed hands, but I felt like it should have been more obvious by the change in the writers' styles and personalities. Breaking this up into chapters would have made it easier to flip back and remember who was who.
Overall, this was a very worthwhile, quick read and is appropriate for readers of any age.
I received this book from Crosslink Publishing through BookCrash for review purposes. Opinions expressed are my own.
August 13, 2013
This book did a wonderful job of really capturing the souls of the writers and drawing out the ordeal of the war and the effect it had on each person’s mind, body and spirituality. I enjoyed getting to have snapshots into each of the new soldier’s lives. To read the two sides of the story and view points and watch the growth that occurred in some of the soldiers due to what they witnessed and lived through during the Civil War.
Since we had already studied the Civil War we decided to read this book together as a family. My kids really loved the way the different soldiers would comment on previous soldier’s entries and really got the feel of how each side felt about the war. The sacrifices they were making and the different relationships they had with God.
The only thing I really issue or dislike about the book was how unclear it was when the new person started writing in the journal. The author did always do a great job in differentiating between new journal writers in a clear and concise way, which kept me wondering who was writing.
I would recommend this book to those who are war enthusiast or to those who love to take glimpses into the lives of others. Wonderfully wrote and very engaging.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Since we had already studied the Civil War we decided to read this book together as a family. My kids really loved the way the different soldiers would comment on previous soldier’s entries and really got the feel of how each side felt about the war. The sacrifices they were making and the different relationships they had with God.
The only thing I really issue or dislike about the book was how unclear it was when the new person started writing in the journal. The author did always do a great job in differentiating between new journal writers in a clear and concise way, which kept me wondering who was writing.
I would recommend this book to those who are war enthusiast or to those who love to take glimpses into the lives of others. Wonderfully wrote and very engaging.
Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
August 9, 2014
The time is June 1861. A journal is given to a young Rebel fighter and each entry over the next four years detail the lives of 8 men: Rebel and Yankee.
As the journal falls from one hand and into the next, each man will read what was written beforehand and add his own thoughts: about life, about the war, about love, and about God.
Each man is at a different stage in his life in his relationship with God. Some make the choice, a couple do not. And each finds that there are good men and bad men on both sides and each pray for the day the war will end.
The Journal chronicles these men's lives and will bring the reader even deeper into their own walk with God.
At times I found the writing to be heartbreaking and I could picture the horror of the young man trapped in the bombardment of Vicksburg and his relief that his company had surrendered. Finally food and rest, either in a prison camp or in heaven.
Through all the entries and all the worry, the ugliness of war and man's behaviour, and the desperate longing for home one theme reigns: hope. Each man had hope. Hope to see family, to see the end of war, to see his brother or child, or just to go home. And each learned that belief in Jesus Christ gave that hope.
An easy book to read in one afternoon, but a book to keep on your shelf to read time and time again. The author's research of the Civil War was complete and the description placed the reader in each scene. This is a book that will stay with you for a long, long time.
As the journal falls from one hand and into the next, each man will read what was written beforehand and add his own thoughts: about life, about the war, about love, and about God.
Each man is at a different stage in his life in his relationship with God. Some make the choice, a couple do not. And each finds that there are good men and bad men on both sides and each pray for the day the war will end.
The Journal chronicles these men's lives and will bring the reader even deeper into their own walk with God.
At times I found the writing to be heartbreaking and I could picture the horror of the young man trapped in the bombardment of Vicksburg and his relief that his company had surrendered. Finally food and rest, either in a prison camp or in heaven.
Through all the entries and all the worry, the ugliness of war and man's behaviour, and the desperate longing for home one theme reigns: hope. Each man had hope. Hope to see family, to see the end of war, to see his brother or child, or just to go home. And each learned that belief in Jesus Christ gave that hope.
An easy book to read in one afternoon, but a book to keep on your shelf to read time and time again. The author's research of the Civil War was complete and the description placed the reader in each scene. This is a book that will stay with you for a long, long time.
January 20, 2016
The time is June 1861. A journal is given to a young Rebel fighter and each entry over the next four years detail the lives of 8 men: Rebel and Yankee.
As the journal falls from one hand and into the next, each man will read what was written beforehand and add his own thoughts: about life, about the war, about love, and about God.
Each man is at a different stage in his life in his relationship with God. Some make the choice, a couple do not. And each finds that there are good men and bad men on both sides and each pray for the day the war will end.
The Journal chronicles these men's lives and will bring the reader even deeper into their own walk with God.
At times I found the writing to be heartbreaking and I could picture the horror of the young man trapped in the bombardment of Vicksburg and his relief that his company had surrendered. Finally food and rest, either in a prison camp or in heaven.
Through all the entries and all the worry, the ugliness of war and man's behaviour, and the desperate longing for home one theme reigns: hope. Each man had hope. Hope to see family, to see the end of war, to see his brother or child, or just to go home. And each learned that belief in Jesus Christ gave that hope.
An easy book to read in one afternoon, but a book to keep on your shelf to read time and time again. The author's research of the Civil War was complete and the description placed the reader in each scene. This is a book that will stay with you for a long, long time.
As the journal falls from one hand and into the next, each man will read what was written beforehand and add his own thoughts: about life, about the war, about love, and about God.
Each man is at a different stage in his life in his relationship with God. Some make the choice, a couple do not. And each finds that there are good men and bad men on both sides and each pray for the day the war will end.
The Journal chronicles these men's lives and will bring the reader even deeper into their own walk with God.
At times I found the writing to be heartbreaking and I could picture the horror of the young man trapped in the bombardment of Vicksburg and his relief that his company had surrendered. Finally food and rest, either in a prison camp or in heaven.
Through all the entries and all the worry, the ugliness of war and man's behaviour, and the desperate longing for home one theme reigns: hope. Each man had hope. Hope to see family, to see the end of war, to see his brother or child, or just to go home. And each learned that belief in Jesus Christ gave that hope.
An easy book to read in one afternoon, but a book to keep on your shelf to read time and time again. The author's research of the Civil War was complete and the description placed the reader in each scene. This is a book that will stay with you for a long, long time.
September 5, 2013
A nameless confederate soldier is given a journal by his fiance when he goes off to fight in the war. The journal changes hands multiple times throughout the war through different circumstances, and even crosses the battle lines more than once. It is an interesting look at the Civil War through many eyes.
This is a short little book--only 62 pages--but quite interesting. You get a little peek into several lives throughout a terrible time in US history. I enjoyed the different "writers" throughout the book. It was frustrating at times to not know the end of some of their stories, but that also brings authenticity to the book. It bothered me reading of these men getting baptized to "wash away their sins" knowing that baptism is nothing more than a symbol--it does NOT save you. Other than that, I really enjoyed this little book.
I received a copy of this book from BookCrash.com for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a short little book--only 62 pages--but quite interesting. You get a little peek into several lives throughout a terrible time in US history. I enjoyed the different "writers" throughout the book. It was frustrating at times to not know the end of some of their stories, but that also brings authenticity to the book. It bothered me reading of these men getting baptized to "wash away their sins" knowing that baptism is nothing more than a symbol--it does NOT save you. Other than that, I really enjoyed this little book.
I received a copy of this book from BookCrash.com for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 1, 2013
All soldiers miss home and long to return to the ones they love. The Journal shares viewpoints of soldiers from the North and South during the Civil War. History is told as fictional Union and Rebel soldiers describe some of the major battles of the war, yet the war is personalized as soldiers from both sides of the war describe their hunger and loneliness.
The journal begins its journey in the South but is found by a Yankee soldier who finds answers as he reads of the Rebel's love and dependence on God. Enemies understand each other better as the journal is lost and found by soldiers on both sides of the war. The Journal shares history and the gospel in a way that readers will enjoy.
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Bookcrash on behalf of the author and publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer and no compensation was received for this review.
The journal begins its journey in the South but is found by a Yankee soldier who finds answers as he reads of the Rebel's love and dependence on God. Enemies understand each other better as the journal is lost and found by soldiers on both sides of the war. The Journal shares history and the gospel in a way that readers will enjoy.
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by Bookcrash on behalf of the author and publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer and no compensation was received for this review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews